How Are You Tackling the Cost of Living Crisis
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Thought we could create a thread to share money saving tips on things such as energy, food, reusing and repurposing and with Xmas coming up any tips to save on gifts, decor, food etc
Only people without much to start with will try to tighten their belts and reuse, recycle and cut down. Those with plenty of dosh won't bother turning the thermostat down, buying less goods or making do and mend.
So it seems saving money and the planet is left to the poor as they are less likely to be victims of consumerism.
No one needs new decs every year and if they feel they do let's hope they give old ones to those who can't afford any.
Along with food it would be nice if food banks could take donations of other things that may make someone smile. But then again I feel many people abuse food banks.
Lynibis the problem is generally speaking the richer you are the more you pollute the environment, the poor don't contribute anywhere near as much.
Lynibis I don’t re buy decorations every year that’s just insane! I sometimes add a few nice ones as odd ones break and need replacing. As for food banks I agree, I know some near me accept clothing in good condition and around Xmas toys and games they give out to families in need
Maybe shopping at multiple stores to get that one item cheaper instead of shopping at 1
lucky77777 only if you are lucky enough to have several stores near you so you are not having to travel more to get to them otherwise you are probably not saving that much. Probably better for larger more expensive items.
Ever since August I stopped using my TV & PS4 (sold it) and tucked it away, so I could use that space to connect my tablet to listen to radio. Thought about selling the TV, but it has no box so it's kinda hard (to ship).
I've replaced the kettle and slice toaster with a lower wattage ones, wash dishes with cold water, take cold showers, use coats/blankets/socks when it's cold, use economic light bulbs (5w), etc. Even doing all that sometimes still isn't enough.
Some people won't like living like this although they'll have to get used to it unless they want to pay more.
PhilipMarc Replacing kettles and toasters with lower wattage ones is unlikely to save any energy/money - it will just mean it will take longer to create the necessary heat. It could though help to replace a four slice toaster with a two slice model if you don't usually want to toast more than two slices at the same time.
Similar with electric kettles it can save, if you regularly have to boil more than you need, to find a kettle that has a lower required minimum (usually slimmer near the base). Better still, financially, is not to use electricity if gas is available.
PhilipMarc Do you really wash your dishes with cold water?? What about peri peri, curry spaghetti grease left on the plates, dishes, fish in tomatoe sauce, salmon, mackerel, kippers? I have to use fairy washing up liquid and white vinegar to get rid of both the grease and smell. Taking cold showers do not sound hygienic to me.
jam45 When I use the kettle, I boil water for my coffee/tea and for any grease that may be inside the pan/air fryer pan.
Grease on plates, dishes, cups, etc that gets washed quite easily.
PhilipMarc Research has shown that the temperature of the water doesn’t really make a difference.” So a good scrub is more important than the water temperature. And research has shown that using washing up liquid to kill bacteria is important.
I don't turn the lights on unless necessary, I use the shortest cycle on the lowest temperature of the washing machine. I use the airfryer as often as possible so I'm not using the oven often. I don't have the heating on for as long as I used to, the thermostat isn't as high as it used to be. We all wear more layers around the house. I use colder water when washing the dishes. I repair clothes when I can. I buy 2nd hand items as its cheaper. I don't send Christmas cards, all my decorations are hand me downs from my mum. I don't buy loads of food or drink at Christmas time as its not needed.
cut my electric use in half, by not using 3 items. Only started using heating from November and only for 2 hours a day. The price rises was the best thing to happen I didn’t realise how much I wasted. I’m still not paying as much as I used to, even with the rises.
joceeree i had my gpu mining 24/7 and 2 dehumidifiers going the same. i've just started using the dehumidifiers again but ordered a new one getting delivered tomorrow. it uses half the electric than the old ones and i will just use one from now on..
i bought a heat pump dryer, they take longer to dry but use a lot less power, it might be worth checking out for yourself..
No difference to the way I live, always pay as little as possible and do not buy when prices are high.
Luckily I'm not strapped for cash - but I do hate wasting it ! I still just wear a sweatshirt and shorts round the house and keep my lounge at a comfortable 20c -21c . Got rid of my electricity guzzling 3rd freezer -Why did I ever need 3 ? Put a power meter on it and it ate 1.8 KWh a day (thats over 50p a day , £15 a month !) my American Fridge Freezer uses less .
I also turned my boiler flow temperature down from 72 C to 60 C which is supposed to save gas (haven't quantified that yet ) . It does take a bit longer to heat up the house in the morning but I don't get the temperature swings (from 20C to 22.5 C ) when the thermostat kicks the heating in .
I suppose we all have to "cut our cloth" as it were , still plenty more I could do if needs must , switch all electrical stuff off rather than to standby , switch off chargers etc . I always use my air fryers and microwave not the oven (why I always bang on to members about buying as big an airfryer as you can afford ).
I love a wallow in a Radox bath (probably have more baths than showers )
I presume everyone has switched to low energy light bulbs ? Its frightening to think That a couple of old style 100Watt bulbs will cost 7p each and every hour to run ! An energy efficient one uses about 8 times less electric for the same light output .
Other things you can do - make draught excluders for doors using womens stockings stuffed with any kind of material . "Double glaze " your windows using clingfilm , twist loo paper into "sausages" then stuff into draughty windows etc . Beware not to hermetically seal your house as you need some airflow through it certainly if you have a solid fuel or gas fire and to avoid mould .
Know and understand your gas and electric consumption ( both in Kwhrs and cost ) check which savings are worth the discomfort .
Golfforall I have 2 freezers but in a way it helps me to save money as I sometimes batch cook and buy things on offer and freeze for later use
joceeree Fair point . But living on my own An American Fridge freezer and 2 freezers was a bit excessive ? I do freeze my home grown veg and take advantage of "freezer deals" . Freezers cost about 60p a day to run these days ,I never thought about it before .
Golfforall So why are you on a deal site like this? Just to rub people's noses in it?
TheChimp Didn't realise it was a deals site ? Thought it was an advertising site .
Golfforall It appears that some people don't realise that people use deal sites and avoid waste to save money, that's how they/we got to the state that it isn't actually essential. I did notice not too long ago someone trying to rub people's noses in it by saying they spent more in a day on alcohol and cigarettes than most of us can live quite well on for a full week. (or even longer)
My memory is obviously much better than that person's - perhaps it's because although I'm older than that person's parents I learned many years ago that too much alcohol destroys brain cells.
We've still not turned the heating on, blankets and jumpers are still good for the moment. Both the kids have fluffy pj's and bedding to keep them extra warm.
Midnightflower are you a new home? Ours is over 40 years with double glazing and cavity insulation yet I’m cold. The heating has been on a while. My friends daughter lives in a new flat and hasn’t needed heating on since moving in three years ago.
Pjran no it was built in the early 80s, its not very energy efficient but were in the south west so its not quite as cold as other areas. Heating it has always been expensive so we've done what we can over the years to help. We've got thick curtains on the windows and doors and we close them all at dusk ect.
Midnightflower ah you’re obviously more hardy than me, we’re in the south too but it’s definitely getting colder.
Financially I'm in a respectable position where I can still afford to do what I want but I do like saving money where I can do I have not turned on the heating but using clothes and blankets to keep the wife warm (I'm still ok at the mo), managed to get an air fryer so playing with that to save energy (despite the initial outlay for one). Thankfully I moved my work location closer to home (gone from a tank of fuel a week to a tank in a month) and purchased a basic bicycle to ride in rather than car but this has not happened due to sickness and weather really but still genuinely on the cards to do (not ridden for well over 20years!). This is what I have done so far and can look at cutting costs else where should I need/wish too.
I've picked up a shedload of decorations on free to collect.
I also do the penny a day and by Christmas I cash in the week before Christmas and I've got between £600-£700 My kids main presents will have cost me under £100 for all 3 as I build up my gift cards and last I womble.
I think that whole attitude of “do I really need it” before buying something helps as often you could get home and within a day forget the thing all together.
I'm going try charge my phone at public places such as the library and Primark has a area where people can sit and also charge their phones
I've put up stick on motion sensor lights in every room barring the bathroom and bedroom. I use rechargable batteries which I recharge once a month but I'm going to get a solar power bank so I can use that to recharge my batteries. I will be getting some battery-operated fairylights and a desklamp for my bedroom so I don't need to keep using the big light. I also have some garden solar lights that I put in jars around the house, they don't give off much light since we're not getting much sun to charge them but it's something. For christmas presents I'm shopping on amazon and using a free trial to get my postage for free
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